Josh Gordon stepping away from football "for a bit"

Ralphwiggum

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Hopefully it's not a relapse and he's doing what he needs to do to take care of himself. Sucks for the Pats, but not surprising and hopefully he gets the support he needs through this.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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The chances were always slim that the Pats were going to win the SB this year, with the way the season has been going. This probably ensures it's not going to happen. But Gordon's health is more important anyway.
 

Ed Hillel

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I figured he failed another drug test upon reading this. Sad story, hopefully he gets it together off the field and finds life after football. He doesn’t seem like an asshole or anything, either. Tough to watch.
 

genoasalami

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The chances were always slim that the Pats were going to win the SB this year, with the way the season has been going. This probably ensures it's not going to happen. But Gordon's health is more important anyway.
Exactly. Hope he gets well. Regardless of him being on the team the chances of them winning the SB this year are very small. This off season is going to be critical. Lot's of decisions to be made including finding a QB who can be under center in a few years.
 

Blue Monkey

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Yeah this is tragic news. He does seem like a nice guy and a good teammate. Hope he gets the help he needs. Tough news to hear for lots of reason. Football being way secondary...
 

RG33

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This is really too bad. I was hopeful with all the stories I have read the last month that the Patriots structure and TB12s’ influence had actually had the life impact on Gordon that he seemed to need. Those demons are just hard to conquer, particularly when it all started so young. As others here have said, he seems like a good guy who has just had an awfully difficult life. Godspeed.
 

lexrageorge

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It seemed for a while that he had overcome his demons, and was positioning himself well for a nice payday this offseason. Tough news....
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

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We will have to wait and see if we ever learn more but this is the NFL league office we're talking about here. They don't deserve any benefit of the doubt, so until we hear otherwise we should prepare ourselves for learning that whatever he did to violate the terms of his reinstatement is massively stupid and inconsequential. Just watch this will turn out to be because he took the wrong type of allergy medication or something similarly innocuous. This is the NFL, if there is a way to do something in the most stupid way possible they will actually find an even more stupid way to do it.
 

DJnVa

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Man, fuck this season.

Hope he gets the help he needs. This really bums me out.
 

Van Everyman

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Agree with what everyone else is saying. Football-wise, this is a big loss for sure, but on balance, I think this was still a good move for BB -- a gamble that worked out. Believe his final Pats #s were 11 games, 40 catches, 720 yards, and 3 TDs.

Best of luck to him.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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We will have to wait and see if we ever learn more but this is the NFL league office we're talking about here. They don't deserve any benefit of the doubt, so until we hear otherwise we should prepare ourselves for learning that whatever he did to violate the terms of his reinstatement is massively stupid and inconsequential. Just watch this will turn out to be because he took the wrong type of allergy medication or something similarly innocuous. This is the NFL, if there is a way to do something in the most stupid way possible they will actually find an even more stupid way to do it.
I thought his issue has always been weed? That he uses to combat his anxiety?
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I thought his issue has always been weed? That he uses to combat his anxiety?
Weed, coke, prescription pills, lots of drinking. Not a Ricky Williams situation as far as I know.

"I've used alcohol on many, many occasions, Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup, methazine is very prevalent where I'm from,'' Gordon admit. "It's what I grew up using.''
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2017/10/browns_josh_gordon_opens_up_ab.html
 

johnmd20

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Wow, that was Volin-worthy crap by Rappaport.
Impossibly bad analysis. They played him the entire game but sat him out the last play b/c they knew this was coming. THAT WILL SHOW THEM.

I feel badly for Gordon. He needs a 12 step program and the right medication, that is not addictive, asap. It's a shame and I feel sorry for him and hope he can get it together. Addiction is very hard.
 

Gash Prex

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Seems like a good kid - NFL has a terrible policy in dealing with substance abuse issues. Best of luck and thanks for the much needed WR help
 

lexrageorge

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The fact that Gordon has indicated he is taking a break for mental health reasons indicates that the failed test (assuming that's what happened) is something more serious than being 15 seconds late to an NFL-mandated checkin appointment.

And Rappaport has crossed into Tomase territory with that tweet. It's both disgraceful and a blatant lie.
 

moondog80

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I don't get it -- he is "facing a suspension" but everyone knew this last week and he still played?
 

axx

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I don't get it -- he is "facing a suspension" but everyone knew this last week and he still played?
I doubt Ian's story. My guess is that he was tested after the game and tested positive for weed.
 

m0ckduck

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Speaking of stupid media takes...

I think this was still a good move for BB -- a gamble that worked out. Believe his final Pats #s were 11 games, 40 catches, 720 yards, and 3 TDs.
This is the truth. But brace yourself as every talking head who questioned the Gordon deal at the time will come out with some contorted version of "the team would be in better shape if it had spent the season integrating Dorsett or some other option over the unreliable Gordon".

For my part, I love watching the Pats, but this year's edition hasn't brought much new to the table. It's mostly the same guys as last season, but a year older and not quite as good. Gordon was the one big thing about this season that felt shiny and new. So, sucks that it's over.
 

PedroKsBambino

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The NFL has the worst media of any sport. A bunch of meatheads.

I wish Gordon luck and hope he finds peace.
Agreeed.

I don't get it -- he is "facing a suspension" but everyone knew this last week and he still played?
I believe that there is a period after a positive test/violation and before the appeal is heard that the team knows but the player can still play. Others can confirm/correct that. I do not stand behind anything specifically in the Rap post, but I do think it is possible under NFL rules for a player to be facing a suspension and still play in a game.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Just let this poor dude smoke weed
He can't ONLY smoke weed - see above - he uses all kinds of substances. He is a drug addict and the only way he will stay clean is to stop using all drugs.

Easier said than done but there are many of us who have done it and continue to do it.

I'm upset but not surprised. He seems like a very decent guy but I know many very decent guys who can't stay clean.
 

Twalk

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Horrible to hear. I can't even imagine the battle he will face now with the anxiety, depression, cravings that will only get worse most likely having his career finished in the NFL. I only hope that some of his mental health issues come from the stress of playing on the professional level, the traveling etc and he ends up doing something with much less pressure which as someone with anxiety issues, i can only imagine what playing in the NFL does to increase that and subsequently increase his need to self medicate. I don't know. Maybe using insane talent to coach or do something but at a much less stress producing situation.

I really worry for the guy because the options for recovery aren't great. The success rate for 12-step programs are not good especially for a chronic relapser. He 100% should try even if for the support of people around him that have been though the hell of addiction. And finding the right medication is certainly not an easy task. I'd imagine he has already tried. I see Xanax on the list of addictive substances he struggles with. I'd imagine that was prescribed at some point as "medication" to help with his anxiety. And then you are addicted to Benzos, along with everything else. As others have said he seems like a decent human who deserves to get his life together. Quite a depressing feeling to read that article about how much playing with Brady was helping him and then to read this news today. Hope to read something positive about his life in the future. Long road..
 

scottyno

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Either Rap has a terrible Pats source or he has it out for Gordon, remember a month or so ago when he reported Gordon would be benched to start a night game and then that never happened?